Category Archives: Uncategorized

Wouldn’t it be great if every child loved to curl up and get lost in a great book for hours every day? Unfortunately, that is not the reality that many parents face, especially given the technology and devices that vie for young children’s’ attention. Some parents face an uphill battle to get their children to read, so we have compiled some ideas that may help you get in extra reading throughout the day.

Travel Time – If you, like many families, find yourself in the car driving to and from school, activities, and sports, you know that “car time” can add up quickly from minutes to hours each week. Keep a book in the car for those trips, even if it is a joke book, graphic novel, or an adventure magazine. Each time in the car can be added minutes of reading every day.

Use Simple Reading Moments – Sneak in reading moments when your child doesn’t even realize it. For example, try reading recipes, street signs, comics, the closed captioning on the t.v., and even the back of cereal boxes.

Use Tech – Try using the technology that children love, including reading tablets, books on tape (or something equivalent), and reading apps that can easily be put on a phone or tablet.

Bedtime – This is one of our favorite times to read because it allows for relaxation and a connection between readers. Aim for at least 20 minutes every night.

Play Games – Who does love to play games, especially the more interactive ones that are out currently? Games almost always require reading of some sort from the directions to the game’s cards! Every little bit counts.

Produce a Play – Depending upon the age and interest of your children, you could produce a short skit or play by writing out the lines and then practicing them. Make a video of it to send to family members!

Reading should not be boring or a chore, and it doesn’t have to be if you make it interesting. Be sure to always choose books that match your child’s skill level and interests. Check back in future blogs about making reading a part of your daily routine.

NSCS will be hosting open houses in October on all three campuses for prospective families. Please contact Christine Saia at csaia@nschristian.org for more information and to register your attendance at one of the following open houses.

Beverly campus: October 22-26 from 8:30-2:00

Hamilton campus: October 11 from 8:00-12:00

Lynn campus: October 9-12 from 9:00-2:00 and October 11 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

On the beautiful spring evening of May 4, 2018, we celebrated with our students the culmination of all their months of hard work and study. This annual “Celebration of Learning” included a live auction, classroom presentations by students, and an art show. The students proudly presented their work and took such ownership over their learning. They truly are growing spiritually and academically every day.

Our special evening kicked off in the multipurpose room where Mrs. Renee Southard was our auctioneer extraordinaire. Works of art planned and created by our very own students and teachers were the centerpieces of the auction. The artwork, made with love, included: a lacquered coffee table, hand-painted stoneware, planting pottery, canvas paintings, a stepping stone, a photo collage, wall hanging, a fleece blanket, and an “I Believe” book. The items will be cherished by our winning bidders.

After the successful auction, parents, grandparents, and family members joined their students in their respective classrooms where they had the opportunity to explore what each grade has been studying. Each grade level offered a variety of events, from presentations, to theater, and even a Wax Museum! They worked so hard and had so much fun planning and preparing for these final projects. Here is a quick recap of some of the classrooms in case you couldn’t get to them all.

Rainforest Theme, complete with a living rainforest from the underbrush up through the canopy!

Reader’s Theater and Music Room Presentations

Meet the Authors and Readers Theater – The Cat in the Hat

Immigration Country Research Projects

Wax Museum Presentations

State Projects Presentations

Persuasive Presentations

Throughout the evening, students had the opportunity to showcase some amazing artwork that was displayed around the school, in classrooms, and adorning the walls of the hallways. Here is just a sampling of the types of work the students completed.

Landscape paintings that explored the tints and shades that can be used to create depth in a painting.

An analysis of the illustrations in publications such as Snowmen at Night by Mark Buehner.

An exploration of printmaking after studying the work of Albrecht Durer.

Simple pinch pots were designed and displayed proudly by our kindergarteners.

Traditional Korean masks used in theater productions were created by our first graders.

A study and compilation on traditional mosaics. The students created their own in the image of Mona Lisa.

Third graders “upcycled” and created weaved items out of recycled plastic.

Clay Fairy homes were created by our fourth graders. They incorporated interesting forms and textures.

Notan designs were created by fifth graders who studied the balance of light and dark in design.

Our middle school students curated their own show by choosing which pieces they were most proud of and displaying them with an artists statement.

Thank you so much to all the parents and family members who spent their time celebrating learning with your students. We are so proud of each and every one of them.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. I thought of this ancient quote about experiential learning as students in grades 7 and 8 recently participated in a Classroom Constitutional Convention. Hearing, seeing, and doing were all part of the learning experience over the course of about a week and a half. For our Constitutional Convention, each student was given an identity of a historical delegate to the 1787 Convention in Philadelphia. Students researched the life of the delegate and studied the viewpoints of the delegate and how the delegate would have probably voted on the major issues regarding the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. After a few days of preparation, the classroom became the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. We even closed the door and shut the blinds. Students assembled to express the late 18th-century political views in the new United States of America. Would representation in the legislative branch be based upon population, or wealth, or by some other means? For the executive branch would we have a king or a council of executives? Would the word “President” even come up at this meeting? Would a Judicial Branch be necessary? Over the course of the week, students spoke on these and other vital historical issues. Students began to realize that these issues are still relevant today. Arguments and counter-arguments were heard, motions were passed or denied, and votes were counted. Finally, a Constitution was scribed by our Secretary and President of the Convention, and delegates, if agreeing with the Constitution in its present form, signed his or her student name and delegate name. Students heard, listened, saw, and participated in a political process. The hope is that experiential learning “sticks” and breeds more interest among students in civics and the social studies.

Mr. Todd McMillan is the Middle School Social Studies and Bible teacher.

The Young Alumni Service Award was presented during last Friday’s Chapel on the Beverly Campus to Isabelle Harper, class of 2014.

The Young Alumni Service Award is given to an alum in grade 7th through 12th, who has given evidence of having integrated their faith into their daily lives, making it a distinct part of their character, a guide in their decision-making and an influence in shaping their worldview.

The recipient of this award will also be a student who is involv…ed in their local church, demonstrates well-roundness by their involvement and activities within their town or city, seeks to be civil-minded in word and deed, and maintains average or above average grades.

Isabelle started her school journey at NSCS when she was in Kindergarten and was a student here until June 2014. She currently attends Ipswich Middle School where she and her sister Victoria ran a successful Haiti Shoebox drive.

Isabelle Harper received this year’s Young Alumni Service Award for initiative in heading up an outreach at her public school. We are so proud of her!

Rebecca Ibanez, grade 8, was recently interviewed by the Lynn Item. Her story appeared on the front page on Saturday April 1st. You can read about this remarkable and inspiring young lady and her desire to serve God and others by clicking here.

Rebecca was also recently honored by the Lynn Rotary through their Eighth Grade Recognition Program. You can see more about that here.

This week our Beverly Campus students hosted an exciting evening of science!

Students in Kindergarten through grade 6 followed the scientific method and used the data collected to present their findings on many different topics.

Kindergartners researched the planets, while the first and second graders studied the human senses. Third and fourth graders explored the properties of water and its impact on human, animal and plant life. The fifth and 6th grade class researched the structure and layers of the earth, including volcanoes and earthquakes.

All of the students did an exceptional job preparing their exhibits and explaining their findings to family and friends who attended the Science Fair.

Lynn Campus students in grades 2 through 8 have been working on their spelling skills for several months, all vying for the chance to represent NSCS at the city wide SCRIPPS Spelling Bee in March. Last night, two finalists from each class excitedly and anxiously participated in our annual school Spelling Bee. Family and friends gathered to support all of the students as Mr. Richard Ladd led the event as the pronouncer.

After approximately an hour of spelling, Nicholas emerged as the champion! He will go on to represent NSCS at the Lynn Auditorium in March.

North Shore Christian School received an Official Citationfrom the Mayor’s Office for their recent service at My Brother’s Table. Students in Kindergarten, 7th and 8th grade visited My Brother’s Table in December to sing Christmas carols and bring homemade cookies to the guests.

The three grades have chosen to reach out to MBT, the North Shore’s largest soup kitchen, as their service project for this school year. They have been and will continue in this endeavor for the remainder of the school year.

The Citation reads: “Be it known to all who read these presents that the Honorable Judith Flanagan Kennedy Mayor of the great City of Lynn hereby extends her sincerest congratulations to: North Shore Christian School In recognition of: your efforts to bring happiness to My Brother’s Table with your singing and home-made cookies. Be it further known that the entire City of Lynn extends its very best wishes for continued success and good fortune in all endeavors; that this citation be duly signed by the Mayor of the City of Lynn.”